Jasmine' China Adventure Tours

Solar Eclipse Coronal Detail - Jeff Buell

Eclipse Over The Silk Road
August 1, 2008

New! See the weather conditions for our viewing site as they were on August 1, 2007, exactly one year prior to the eclipse.

Eclipse Over the Silk Road tour (July 19-August 3, 2008: Two weeks): $3,995 per person, double occupancy. Detailed Itinerary

Eclipse-only tour (July 28-August 3, 2008: One week): $2,650 USD per person, double occupancy. Detailed Itinerary

Optional post-eclipse extension (August 3-9, 2008: One week): $1,000 USD per person, double occupancy. [Please note: this option is only available if selected with one of the other options.] Detailed Itinerary

All prices are land cost only and do not include international air fare and certain other items. Please see full Terms and Conditions for details.

We have added an extensive Frequently Asked Questions page for this tour as well as a gallery of images from scouting trips along the route of the 2008 Eclipse Tour.

Join Jasmine Zheng-Behrens of Jasmine's China Adventure Tours and Bill Sorrells of the Peninsula Astronomical Society for one of the most spectacular of nature's sights: a total eclipse of the sun, seen from the exotic Silk Road region of northwest China. This rare event will be visible on August 1, 2008 from points near the western end of the Great Wall.

In June, 2005, we traveled to the centerline to locate the best available viewing areas for the eclipse. Our trip took us to little-known Gansu Province, a fascinating area in which Chinese, Tibetan, and Muslim cultures co-exist in a rugged landscape of snow-capped peaks, alpine grasslands and stark desert wastes. Along the way, we followed the traces of the ancient Silk Road westward from the Yellow River along the most distant reaches of the Great Wall. We even ascended to the edge of the Tibetan Plateau, where we mingled with Tibetan Buddhist pilgrims at a thriving Yellow Hat monastery complex and followed the trail of nomadic herding families to a walled grassland town.

In 2008 we will share those experiences with you on a spectacular expedition to view the Eclipse Over the Silk Road. We plan to offer a two-week tour with an optional third week extension, as well as a shorter option for those who only have time to view the eclipse. (To help you in booking your international air tickets: The two week tour begins in Beijing and ends in Shanghai. The optional third week extension ends in Shanghai. And the eclipse-only option begins and ends in Shanghai.)

The tour programs will feature expert guides and knowledgeable astronomers to keep every participant fully informed of each fascinating detail of the experience. Accommodations will be in comfortable, modern hotels with private baths and air-conditioning. The best in local food and drink will be on the menu, and we will travel in comfortable, air-conditioned buses at each stop, even in the desert.

Jasmine will lead the tour personally, bringing to bear nearly 20 years of experience as a China tour organizer and guide to make this special adventure more than merely a sightseeing tour, but an unparalleled opportunity to come face-to-face with the real life of China and its people. The size of the group will be strictly limited so that you can plunge into local life in a way larger groups cannot, tasting the regional cuisine in family-owned restaurants, going on foot to absorb the sights and aromas of side-street spice markets, and wandering the narrow lanes of rural villages to visit local families in their homes.

The tour begins in Beijing, home of the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven, the best-known eastern section of the Great Wall, and for the astronomers, the ancient Beijing Observatory, with its array of pre-telescopic instruments.

Then on the way to the eclipse, we will stop in Xi'an, the ancient T'ang Dynasty capital of China, with its spectacular, 2200-year old terra cotta army and its irresistible, Moslem-influenced food streets overshadowed by the massive city walls. We'll even visit a village of traditional "cave homes".

In the Silk Road country, we will cruise up the Yellow River to the spectacular Buddhist grottoes at Bingling Si, ascend to the Tibetan Plateau to experience the frontier atmosphere of a bustling Buddhist monastery and pilgrimage center, and explore some of the most distant and little-known reaches of the Great Wall .

Along the way, we will enjoy special treats such as a picnic luncheon at a desert winery, one of the stars of China's up-and-coming wine industry, with a chance to sample their products, including (paradoxically?) riesling-style "ice wines".

The late afternoon eclipse will be the highlight of the trip. Not long before dusk, the sun will be totally eclipsed by the moon for nearly two minutes, bringing an unearthly darkness to the stark desert landscape. Our astronomers will provide a detailed briefing beforehand to make sure everyone gets the most out of the experience, and will provide tips on photography.

Based on our personal observation of centerline viewing sites in June 2005, we have chosen a wonderful location outside of Wuwei, very near the historic line of the Great Wall on the fringes of the Tengger Desert. Our viewing location, which is virtually on the centerline, has the perfect combination of easy access and clear sightlines to the eclipse. We knew we had found the right place when a flight of cranes passed majestically and silently overhead, as if to welcome us. We could hardly ask for a more propitious omen for our 2008 trip!

Given the late hour, and the remoteness of the viewing location, we will provide a fully-catered Chinese-style barbeque dinner on-site, as well as a special post-eclipse celebration.

The optional third week extension will take us deep into the scenic heart of China to visit Guilin and Yangshuo, a magical landscape of gentle rivers and rice paddies overshadowed by forests of rugged karst pinnacles, where we will have the chance to get acquainted with the rhythms of traditional rural life. The highlight of our visit will be the boat cruise down the magnificent Li River, with a lunch of local specialties served on-board. You will even have the option of exploring the quiet country lanes of this truly stunning area by bicycle. Then, on to modern Shanghai, with a side trip to one of the many beautiful “water towns” sometimes called a “Venice of the East”.

Other optional add-on trips will be available for those who wish to continue their travels independently, including Tibet, Hong Kong, or even a return to Beijing to take in the 2008 Summer Olympic Games!

Eclipse Over the Silk Road promises to be the opportunity of a lifetime. Further details can be found in the projected itineraries on these pages. If you would like to be put on our mailing list, please contact us and we will be sure to send you further information as soon as it is available.

2008 China Total Solar Eclipse Tour
Projected Itinerary—Two-Week Option
July 19 – August 3, 2008
$3,995 per person, double occupancy.
The price is land cost only and does not include international air fare.

Book Now!
Terms and Conditions | Reservation Form

July 19 (Saturday): Depart from the U.S.A. or Canada. (If your trip originates elsewhere, please arrange your arrival in Beijing for July 20.)

July 20 (Sunday): Arrive in Beijing and transfer to the hotel. (Meals will be provided for arriving guests depending upon their arrival time. Since most flights from North America arrive in the afternoon or evening, there will be no scheduled activities on this day.)

July 21 (Monday): Sightseeing in Beijing, including Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven and the ancient Beijing Observatory. Also, a visit to one of the few remaining traditional “hutong”, or alleyway, neighborhoods to visit local families in their courtyard houses. In the evening, a welcome dinner of Beijing roast duck in a neighborhood restaurant, where the locals eat.

July 22 (Tuesday): An all-day excursion to visit the Great Wall outside Beijing. Our group will visit the spectacular Mutianyu section of the Wall, which is less crowded than other sections typically visited by tour groups, and where you can walk long ridgetop stretches of the Wall for the views of the rugged landscape. We’ll also visit a small village near an unrestored section of the Wall to meet local people and glimpse their daily lives. In the evening, the option of seeing a performance of Beijing Opera will be available.

July 23 (Wednesday): Fly from Beijing to Xi’an in the morning, approximately a 90-minute flight. After arrival and transfer to the hotel, there will be a sightseeing tour of central Xi’an which will include a chance to walk through the narrow streets and colorful spice markets of the Moslem Quarter and visit the grounds of the Great Mosque. Dinner will be a special Shaanxi Province-style dumpling banquet.

July 24 (Thursday): An all-day excursion to visit the renowned terra cotta army outside Xi’an. Afterwards, we will visit a village of “cave houses”, a traditional style of living in which dwellings are cut deep into the bluffs of the loess plateau, providing insulation against the heat of summer and the chill of winter. In the evening, fly from Xi’an to Lanzhou, approximately a one-hour flight. Transfer to the hotel in Lanzhou, which takes approximately one hour by road from the airport.

July 25 (Friday): Because of the late arrival, we will have free time in the morning to allow you to rest and recuperate from “travel fatigue”. Afterwards, we’ll have a sightseeing tour of Lanzhou. The capital of Gansu Province, Lanzhou is a surprisingly large and bustling city on the banks of the Yellow River. Our city tour will include a visit to the riverside park for a close look at this legendary stream, which has been nicknamed both “the cradle of Chinese civilization” and “China’s sorrow”. We’ll also have a cable car ride to the heights on the opposite bank for the remarkable view of Lanzhou’s bristling skyline.

July 26 (Saturday): We’ll begin our exploration of the wonders of Gansu by taking a boat cruise up the Yellow River to the stunning Bingling Si Grottoes. There, in a magnificent riverside setting overshadowed by looming cliffs and jagged peaks, Buddhist artists and craftsmen sculpted religious figures ranging from tiny, finely-detailed bodhisattvas to a giant seated Buddha carved directly out of the cliff face. Many of the grottoes were painted with colorful geometric or pictorial designs, some of which still survive in good condition and betray a strong Islamic influence. After our visit to Bingling Si, we will drive south into the hills to Linxia, a center of China’s Hui, or Moslem, population, where we will spend the night.

July 27 (Sunday): In the morning, we’ll explore Linxia and visit one of its many mosques, where we can meet and talk with the clergy and the students at the attached school. Afterwards, we will continue by road up onto the edge of the Tibetan Plateau to a large monastery and pilgrimage center, our base for the next two days.

July 28 (Monday): A full day to experience the fascinating life of this frontier outpost where Moslem, Tibetan and Chinese cultures meet. We’ll go on foot to explore the inner courtyards and prayer halls of the monastery and its temples, and follow the steps of highland pilgrims as they circumambulate the vast complex, prostrating themselves and turning prayer wheels as they go. Our tour program will be structured to give you plenty of time to absorb the sights and sounds of this unique place, and to take photographs.

July 29 (Tuesday): An excursion to the vast alpine grasslands to see the rural life of Tibetan nomadic herders and townspeople. Our goal is an ancient walled town where we’ll have the opportunity to visit the homes of Tibetan people as well as the local primary school. Along the way, we may find an encampment of herders where we can learn something about their nomadic lifestyle. And we’ll have a special picnic lunch on the grasslands, enjoying the distant views of snow-capped peaks.

July 30 (Wednesday): In the morning, we’ll have free time for a last look at the monastery and temples. After lunch, we’ll drive back to Lanzhou, arriving in the early evening. We’ll overnight in Lanzhou before moving on to the site of the eclipse on the following day.

July 31 (Thursday): We’ll travel by road along the historic Gansu Corridor portion of the ancient Silk Road to Wuwei, our viewing site for the solar eclipse. This is a full day of travel which will give you intriguing views of the rugged Gansu landscape, from jagged snow-capped peaks to verdant irrigated oases bordered by desert sand dunes. Along the way, we’ll make a special stop at one of China’s largest wineries for a special luncheon, and visit untouristed and unrestored remnants of this distant stretch of the Great Wall. Overnight in Wuwei.

August 1 (Friday): Eclipse day! Our major activity on this day will be preparing for and viewing the total solar eclipse. In the morning, we’ll have a briefing by our astronomical experts to help you prepare for the main event. In order to get you to the viewing site in plenty of time to set up for “first contact”, we’ll leave Wuwei in the early afternoon to drive to the site. Because of the late hour of the eclipse and the distance of the viewing site from the city, we will provide a Chinese-style barbeque dinner on-site, and a special post-eclipse celebration treat as well. After the eclipse is over, we’ll drive back to the hotel in Wuwei to spend the night.

August 2 (Saturday): On this day we say farewell to Gansu and begin our onward or homeward journeys. Leaving Wuwei in the early morning, we will travel by road back to Lanzhou to catch flights to our next destinations. Those who are returning home will fly from Lanzhou to Shanghai (about a two-and-a-half hour flight), and transfer to an airport hotel in Shanghai upon arrival. Those going on for the optional extension will have a flight of about 2-1/2 hours to Guilin.

August 3 (Sunday): Those who are returning home from Shanghai will have breakfast at the airport hotel in Shanghai and then be transferred to the airport for their return flight. Those who are going on for the third week extension, please see the separate itinerary listing the activities for that portion of the tour.

[Please note: The itineraries and activities listed above are based upon current information regarding flights and other transportation and are subject to change and final confirmation.]

2008 China Total Solar Eclipse Tour
Projected “Eclipse-Only” Option
July 28 – August 3, 2008
$2,650 USD per person, double occupancy.
The price is land cost only and does not include international air fare.

Book Now!
Terms and Conditions | Reservation Form

July 28 (Monday): Depart from the U.S.A. or Canada. (If your trip originates elsewhere, please arrange your arrival in Shanghai for July 29.)

July 29 (Tuesday): Arrive in Shanghai and transfer to the hotel. (Meals will be provided for arriving guests depending upon their arrival time. Since most flights from North America arrive in the afternoon or evening, there will be no scheduled activities on this day. Unfortunately, flight schedules do not permit a guaranteed onward connection to Lanzhou on the same day as your arrival.)

July 30 (Wednesday): Fly from Shanghai to Lanzhou, about a three-hour flight, and transfer to the hotel in Lanzhou to meet the remainder of the group. Overnight in Lanzhou.

August 2 (Saturday): On this day we say farewell to Gansu and begin our onward or homeward journeys. Leaving Wuwei in the early morning, we will travel by road back to Lanzhou to catch flights to our next destination. Those who returning home will fly from Lanzhou to Shanghai (about a two-and-a-half hour flight), and transfer to an airport hotel in Shanghai upon arrival.

August 3 (Sunday): Those who are returning home from Shanghai will have breakfast at the airport hotel in Shanghai and then be transferred to the airport for their return flight.

2008 China Total Solar Eclipse Tour
Optional Post-Eclipse Extension
August 3-9, 2008: One week
$1,000 USD per person, double occupancy.
The price is land cost only and does not include international air fare.

Book Now!
Terms and Conditions | Reservation Form

Background note: The region around Guilin is one of the most beautiful in China. Here is found the fantasy landscape of gentle rivers, rice paddies, jagged karst pinnacles and water buffalo plowing in the fields, that features in so much traditional scroll painting. This optional extension takes participants on a day-long river cruise through the heart of this wonderful landscape to Yangshuo, a small town with easy access to a network of country lanes leading to farming hamlets and scenic viewpoints. Participants will have the chance to bicycle along these quiet country roads to visit rural villages and the homes of local people, including a local friend of mine who cooks a delicious lunch of local flavors.

August 2: Tour participants choosing this post-eclipse extension will fly from Lanzhou to Guilin. Overnight in Guilin.

August 3: After breakfast, transfer to the riverside docks for our cruise on the picturesque Li River through the stunning landscape, with lunch served on-board. Arrive in the small town of Yangshuo in the afternoon and transfer to our hotel. The balance of the day is for exploring the town and its lively markets.

August 4-5: Sightseeing in and around the beautiful countryside of Yangshuo, including an optional bicycle ride on country lanes and paths to a nearby village for lunch at my farmer friends' home (those choosing not to bicycle will be taken there by local transportation), and visits to nearby market towns and villages by bicycle or other local transportation to see produce fairs and traditional farming methods where rice cultivation is done by hand or with the aid of water buffalo.

August 6: After breakfast and checkout, drive from Yangshuo to Guilin (about 90 minutes). Fly from Guilin to Shanghai (two hours) and transfer to our hotel.

August 7: City tour of Shanghai, including a visit to the old foreign concession areas, one of which was the Jewish Ghetto during World War II; the Pudong New Development Area, Chenghuangmiao bazaar and the Yuyuan Gardens. In the evening, take a leisurely stroll along the waterfront Bund and Nanjing Road (the lively main shopping street of Shanghai), where you will feel the excitement of the whole city! Overnight in Shanghai.

August 8: Drive to Tongli Village, a picturesque "water town" of canals and bridges near the famous Grand Canal that has been described as a "Venice of the East". Our sightseeing program will include a ride in small boats on the canals, visits to courtyard houses, and meals at a local restaurant. Drive back to Shanghai to spend the night there.

August 9: After breakfast, transfer to the Shanghai airport to catch your home-bound flight.

[Please note: The itineraries and activities listed above are based upon current information regarding flights and other transportation and are subject to change and final confirmation.]

Map by Jay Anderson and Fred Espenak (NASA/GSFC)

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Copyright 2006 by Zheng Ou and Jasmine's China Adventure Tours. All tour descriptions, itineraries and other material on this site are the intellectual property of Zheng Ou and Jasmine's China Adventure Tours and may not be copied or used in any way without their express written permission.

Eclipse Over The Silk Road August 1, 2008

Eclipse Over The Silk Road
August 1, 2008